Modern Ideologies and the Ned Kelly Myth: The Interpretation of The Ned Kelly Story in Jean Bedford’s Sister Kate

Lin BAO

Abstract

This paper studies the well-known contemporary, fictional story about Ned Kelly: Jean Bedford’s Sister Kate in 1982. It examines the representations of Ned Kelly in the novel and explores the social, cultural ideologies in its time. It approaches the topic by locating the texts' representations and discourses in relation to the cultural issues of the times it was produced in. Bedford’s new adaptations shed lights on Australia’s contemporary issues and its harsh colonial past.Key words: ideology; the Kelly legend; masculine myth; feminist views